Diaper rinsing device



Oct. 6, 1964 B. G. JOHNSON -DIAPER RINSING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1963 ml @E INVENTOR. BRADY G. JOHNSON HONEY, M|LLER 8\ RAMB Mw 7K ATTORNEYS United States Patent A Office 3,151,475 DIAPER RINSING DEVICE Brady Glenn Johnson, 202 English Ave., Newark, Ghio Filed May 2, 1963, Ser. No. 277,633 Claims. (Cl. dil-214) This invention relates to a diaper rinsing device for prerin-sing soiled diapers in conventional toilet bowls.

It is customary to prerinse soiled diapers as they are accumulated for sanitary purposes as well assisting in the final washing process. The prerinsing aspect is not looked on with favor as it is a common practice to dip a soiled diaper up and down in a conventional toilet bowl and to further facilitate the rinsing by ushing the toilet. This method has been found to be relatively effective in removing the material and is satisfactory. A second inherent step in this method is the wringing out or removal of the excess water :absorbed by a diaper prior to placing the prerinsed diaper in the usual diaper pail for storage until a suicient quantity is accumulated for the final washing process. Although distasteful, the wringing out may be accomplished by manually twisting the diaper. As an improvement, several devices have been constructed prior to the present invention which attempt to wring out or remove excess water from the rinsed diaper through mechanical apparatus. Such prior devices, however, have failed to remove `a suicient quantity of the absorbed water and are cumbersome to operate. Other devices have been constructed prior to the present invention to enable the operator to perform the rinsing operation without coming in physical contact with the diaper and thereby minimize this undesirable portion of the prerinsing process. However, these previously developed rinsing devices have been found to be less than satisfactory and do not materially improve the rinsing `action that can be obtained from the usual and well-known hand dipping method. In addition, the rinsing devices are of a construction which is cumbersome to operate and are an additional article that must be cleaned rather frequently.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a diaper rinsing device for facilitating the rinsing of a soiled diaperby the dipping method 'and removing the excess water therefrom without necessitating physical contact with the soiled diaper.

It is another object of this invention to provide a diaper rinsing device having a pliable sleeve for enclosing a rinsed diaper to permit manual wringing o-f the diaper by simultaneously squeezing or crushing the lsleeve with the hand while sliding the hand along the sleeve.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a diaper rinsing device having a diaper-engaging, clamp member which may be manually actuated through a pliable sleeve selectively positioned in surrounding rela-` tionship to the clamp member and a diaper in engagement therewith.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a diaper rinsing device which is simple to utilize and which may be economically manufactured.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will -be readily apparent from the following detailed description .and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a view illustrating the diaper rinsing dellg-l-S Patented @et 6, 1964 vice in which the sleeve is disposed in the rinsing position.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE l but showing the sleeve disposed in the wringing position.

FEGURE 3 is .anenlarged medial longitudinal sectional view of the handle assembly.

Referring to the drawings, the diaper rinsing device includes an elongated shaft 1d having a clamp member 11 attached to one end thereof. The shaft 1t) is preferably of tubular form fabricated from amaterialhaving the desired strength and corrosion resistance characteristics. For example, a metal such as aluminum may be utilized to advantage as it is .also relatively light in Weight. A cap 12 is rigidly secured to the end of the shaft 10 opposite the clamp member 11 and serves as a stop as will subsequently be more fully explained.

The clamp member `11 includes a fixed jaw 13 which is secured to the shaft .10 and ta relatively movable jaw 14 pivotally attached -to the xed jaw by a pivot pin 15. The `cooperative portions of the jaws 13 and 14 are adapted to engage a diaper D disposed therebetween to support the diaper in depending relationship to -the shaft 10. A spring (not shown) is incorporated in the clamp member 11 for continuously urging the jaws 13 and 14 into engagement in a normally closed relationship. The movable jaw 14 includes an extension projecting in a direction opposite to the diaper engaging portion inV overlying relationship to the adjacent marginal end por-tions of the shaft 10 forming an actuating lever 16. Preferably, the lever 16 extends substantially parallel to the shaft 10 when a diaper D is engaged by the jaws 13 and 14 and, for reasons which will subsequently become apparent, may also be curved toward the shaft in order that the relative spacing between the end of the lever and the shaft will be at a minimum.

. Mounted on the shaft 10 is an elongated tubular sleeve 17 through which the shaft extends axially. The sleeve 17 is open at one end adjacent the clamp member 11 and is movable axially along the shaft 10 to receive the clamp member and diaper D engaged by the jaws 13 and 14. The opposite end of the sleeve is substantially closed to prevent the escape of water at this end. Utilizing a pliablematerial, such as the well known thermosetting synthetic resins in sheet form, for fabrication of the sleeve 17 permits the sleeve to be readily twisted or squeezed and crushed, along with a diaper disposed therein, to wring out the excess water that is retained by the diaper after the rinsing operation. Preferably, the sleeve 17 is' of a length to fully enclose the diaper D which is folded in the usual manner as well as the clamp member 11 and to extend .a distance along the shaft 10.

To retain the sleeve 17 on the shaft 1t) and restrict the axial movement therealong, the sleeve is attached at the closed end to a handle 18 which is slidably mounted on the shaft 10 for movement between lthe cap 12 and the clamp member 11. The handle 18 is of elongated, generally cylindrical form having an axially extending bore 19 to for receiving the shaft 1li. Preferably, the bore 19 is of a diameter to frictionally engage the shaft 1l) and prevent sliding movement resulting from gravitational forces even though the device maybe supported Yin l a substantially vertical position. A plurality of finger grips 2u may be formed in a portion of the handle 18 perform the rinsing operation. by the handle 18, the sleeve 17 will be suspended veri tically above the diaper D and will not interfere with the rinsing.

aren/rvs surface to provide an improved hand grip. Formed in the marginal end of the handle 1S adjacent the clamp member 11 is a circumferentially extending groove 21 of semicircular cross section which opens to the cylindrical surface of the handle. The marginal end of the sleeve 17 is turned inwardly forming an annular ring portion 22 which is disposed in overyling relationship to the groove 21 and adjacent surface portion of the handle. A circular retainer 23 of circular cross section, formed from a suitable elastic material, rubber, for example, is placed around the ring portion 22 of the sleeve at the groove 2li. The retainer 23 is of a length to force the sleeve material into the groove 21 and thereby retain the sleeve 17 in position on the handle 18.

The handle 18 is fabricated from a resilient material, a thermosetting synthetic resin, for example, which may be readily deformed. Thus, by manually squeezing the handle 18, the frictional force between the bore 1.9 and the shaft 1th may be increased to assure that the handle will be maintained in fixed relationship to the shaft during a rinsing operation.

v A stop ring 24 is also mounted on the shaft 10 between the handle 13 and the clamp member 11. The stop ring 24 consists of a short tubular section formed Vfrom an elastic material, neoprene or rubber, for example, to frictionally engage the shaft 11 and remain in a substantially fixed position. By positioning the stop ring 24 at a predetermined 'distance from the clamp member 11, the handle 1S will be prevented from approaching the end of the actuating lever 16 so closely asto puncture the sleeve 17.

The first step in the utilization of the rinsing device is to attach a diaper D to the device by means of the ,clamp member 11. To accomplish this, the handle 18 is positioned on the shaft 19 adjacent the cap 12 in vorder that the jaws 13 and 14 may project outwardly from the sleeve 17. The cap 12 serves as a convenient fhand grip as well as a stop preventing inadvertent removal of the handle and sleeve.

Although the actuating lever 16 may be partially enclosed by the sleeve 17, the pliable material will not interfere with manual opera- Ation of the actuating lever to separate the jaws' 13 and 14. The soiled diaper D, which may be folded in half lengthwise with the soiled surfaces exposed, is positioned with one marginal end between the jaws 13 and 14 and the lever 16 released. The clamp member spring maintains the jaws 13 and 14 in `a normally closed position in clamping engagement with the diaper. By gripping the handle 1S firmly to cause deformation and increased frictional engagement with the shaft 1Q, the device may be conveniently held in a substantially vertical position and the diaper dipped in and out of a toilet bowl to Since the device is held After performing the rinsing, the excess water absorbed by the diaper must be wrung out. This is conveniently accomplished by positioning the sleeve 17 around the diaper D for the wringing operation. The

shaft 1li is first supported in a vertical position by gripping` the cap 12 and releasing the handle 18 to permit the handle and sleeve 17 to slide downwardly. By forming the actuating lever 16 in such a manner the extreme end thereof will be disposed in close proximity to the Y shaft 10, the lever will not substantially interfere with the passage of the sleeve 17 and will not tear or otherwise damage the sleeve. lf necessary, some manual assistance may be provided to pull the sleeve 17 downwardly over the diaper D. In this position the sleeve 17 is grasped adjacent the clamp 11 by one hand and the excess water squeezed out by Vsimultaneously sequeezing the sleeve with the other hand while sliding that hand toward the open end. As an alternative method of wringing, the sleeve 17 may be grasped by both hands and twistedand eef Y Y crushed in the manner often utilizedin performing a wringing operation. The water, as it is squeezed out, will run down the sleeve 17 toward the open end and return to the toilet bowl. Thus, the sleeve 17 not only avoids the necessity of actual contact with the diaper but prevents the water from being splashed or squirted as often happens when wringing out a cloth.

Upon completion of the wringing operation, the rinsed diaper D may be conveniently deposited in a suitable container or receptacle, such as the well known diaper pail, by simply actuating the clamp member 11. The open end of the sleeve 17 is placed in the receptacle and the actuating lever 16 manipulated through the sleeve to release the diaper. After release, the diaper will slide downwardly through the sleeve 17 and into the receptacle.

Cleaning of the device is a simple and readily performed operation. The clamp member 11 and adjacent portions of the shaft A10 may be cleaned without difticulty as they are fully exposed and are of simple form` The sleeve 17 may be washed or wiped clean by inverting the sleeve on the handle 18 through pulling the open end over the handle. If necessary, the sleeve 17 may be completely removed, for cleaning or replacement, by removal of the retainer 23.

It is readily apparent that the diaper-rinsing device of this invention provides a convenient'and sanitary means of rinsing out soiled diapers. The shaft and clamp member permit rinsing of the diaper by dipping in a conventional toilet bowl. Wringing out the excess water is conveniently accomplished by means of the pliable tubular sleeve. The device is of an economically fabricated construction and is simple and convenient to utilize.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes,

-the principles of this invention have been explained and -have been illustrated and described in what is now conprising an elongated shaft, a normally closed clamp member attached to one end of said shaft and which is adapted to releasably engage a diaper, and an elongated tubular sleeve having an open end and being fabricated from a pliable, substantially liquid impervious material, said sleeve being mounted on said shaft for movement axially thereof between a irst position wherein said clamp member projects outwardly from the open end of said sleeve and a second position wherein a diaper engaged by said clamping member is received within said sleeve and having means for restricting the movement thereof along said shaft.

2. A diaper rinsing device for use in a toilet bowl comprising an elongated shaft, a clamp member attached t0 one end of said shaft for releasably engaging a diaper, and an elongated tubular sleeve fabricated from a substantially liquid impervious, pliable material mounted on said shaft with said shaft extending axially therethrough, said sleeve being movable axially relative to said shaft between a rst position wherein a diaper engaged by said clamp member projects a distance outwardly from the open end of said sleeve and a second position enclosing the diaper. Y 3. A diaper rinsing device according to claim 2 which includes-a handle mounted on said shaft for movement axially thereof and which is attached -at one marginal end to said` sleeve, said handle being adapted to frictionally ly extending bore for frictionally receiving said shaft and which is fabricated from a resilientmaterial readily de formable to increase the frictional engagement of said shaft within said bore.

5. A diaper rinsing device for use in a toilet bowl comprising an elongated shaft, a normally closed clamp member attached to one end of said shaft for releasably engaging a diaper, an elongated tubular sleeve having an open end and a substantially closed end fabricated from a substantially liquid-impervious, pliable material, said sleeve being mounted on said shaft with said shaft extending axially therethrough and with the open end of said sleeve disposed adjacent to said clamp member, and a handle mounted on said shaft for movement axially there- 1 of and which is attached to said sleeve at the closed end, said handle being an elongated body having an axially extending bore for frictionally receiving said shaft and which is fabricated from a resilient material readily deformable to increase the frictional engagement with said 15 shaft and being movable between a rst position wherein a diaper engaged by said clamp member projects a distance outwardly from the open end of said sleeve and a second position wherein the diaper is enclosed by said 5 sleeve.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 135,400 Boyden Feb. 4, 1873 O 2,178,385 Alward Oct. 31, 1939 2,911,813 Stapf Nov. 10, 1959 3,040,655 Byars June 26, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,295 Italy Feb. 26, 1957 

2. A DIAPER RINSING DEVICE FOR USE IN A TOILET BOWL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SHAFT, A CLAMP MEMBER ATTACHED TO ONE END OF SAID SHAFT FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING A DIAPER, AND AN ELONGATED TUBULAR SLEEVE FABRICATED FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY LIQUID IMPERVIOUS, PLIABLE MATERIAL MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT WITH SAID SHAFT EXTENDING AXIALLY THERETHROUGH, SAID SLEEVE BEING MOVABLE AXIALLY RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN A DIAPER ENGAGED BY SAID CLAMP MEMBER PROJECTS A DISTANCE OUTWARDLY FROM THE OPEN END OF SAID SLEEVE AND A SECOND POSITION ENCLOSING THE DIAPER. 